Container bag

ABSTRACT

Container bag which comprises, when the container bag is filled, a cylindrical wall part forming a first central filling space; a number of accessories fixed thereto forming additional filling spaces; and a bottom, wherein the above-mentioned accessories are provided on the outside of the cylindrical wall part.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a container bag.

A container bag is a flexible packaging for bulk products such aspowders, granulated material, liquids and viscous substances or thelike.

Such container bags are available in different dimensions and measuresof volume, and they are made of supple materials which are fixed to eachother by means of sewing, welding, gluing or any other connectingtechniques whatsoever.

The container bags have a bottom and possibly a cover which can be madein the form of a sealing cloth or in the form of an either or notconical feed valve which is formed by a narrowed part in the cover.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

The bottom of the known container bags can be made as a flat, sealedbottom or as a discharge valve which is formed by a narrowed part in thebottom and which can be sealed as desired by tying it up or the like.

Such known container bags are disadvantageous in that, when filled, theymainly assume a cylindrical shape, whereby the walls will bulge somewhatin the height, as a result of which, when such container bags arestacked against each other, a lot of space between the bags remainsunused.

In order to be able to stack the container bags in a more efficientmanner, it is known to manufacture them out of an outer bag with apredominantly square contour, and to reinforce it on the inside, byproviding a reinforcement wall made as an accessory between the walls ofthe outer bag, in the form of partitions or a cylinder-shaped innerwall.

With such container bags, the load is divided over an inner fillingspace which is delimited by the reinforcement wall and over additionalfilling spaces in the corners of the outer bag.

The above-mentioned reinforcement wall offers the advantage that thebulging of the outer bag under the influence of the load is restricted.

A disadvantage of such known container bags, however, is that thereinforcement wall is extremely loaded on the inside as the load in theinner filling space is the largest, as a result of which the risk ofsaid reinforcement wall, which is made as an accessory, being damaged isrelatively large.

Another disadvantage of such known container bags is that the fasteningseams or the like, where the reinforcement wall is fixed to the outerbag, are situated in the filling spaces of the container bags, as aresult of which the load of these container bags can possibly be soiledby fibres or yarn with which the reinforcement wall is fixed to theouter bag, which may be very undesirable when storing very purecomponents.

Another disadvantage of such container bags is that they are made offour bands of fabric which each form one side of the outer bag and whichare initially connected by fixing the accessories, after which the fourbands of fabric are fixed to each other with their adjoining edges.

Container bags which are made according to the above-described knownmethod comprise relatively many seams which usually form a weak point inthe strength of the container bag.

Moreover, the known method is relatively time-consuming, as each of theseams must be sewn or stitched.

The present invention aims to remedy the above-mentioned and otherdisadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention concerns a container bag which comprises,when the container bag is filled, a cylindrical wall part, a number ofaccessories fixed thereto and a bottom, whereby the above-mentionedaccessories are provided on the outside of the cylindrical wall part.

As, with a container bag according to the invention, the additionalfilling spaces are realised by providing accessories on the outside ofthe cylindrical wall part, the central filling space is formed of thecylindrical part, which is more resistant to large forces than theaccessories.

Moreover, manufacturing a container bag according to the invention isrelatively simple, since the outside of the cylindrical wall part iseasily accessible to provide the accessories on it.

In a preferred embodiment of a container bag according to the invention,the container bags are provided with loops or the like which make itpossible to lift the container bag to transport or to discharge it.

These loops are preferably fixed to the container bag at the fasteningseams of the accessories on the cylindrical wall part.

Such an embodiment offers the advantage that, when lifting the containerbag, it can be discharged smoothly and efficiently.

Indeed, when a container bag according to the above-described embodimentis lifted by its loops, a strong deformation of the container bag isavoided, such that any material being discharged from additional fillingspaces between the accessories and the central wall part is madedifficult.

Such a deformation of the additional filling spaces can be obtained,however, when the loops are fixed on the corners of the container bag.

According to another preferred embodiment, the accessories are fixed tothe cylindrical wall part by folding this cylindrical wall part at theheight of the fastening seams to be realised into an outward directedfolding seam and by fixing the accessories to the above-mentionedfolding seam by means of sewing, stitching or the like.

Another advantage of a container bag according to the invention is thatall the stitches of the accessories on the outside of the cylindricalwall part are situated outside the filling spaces, such that the risk ofcontamination of the load is relatively small.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to better explain the characteristics of the present invention,the following embodiments of a container bag according to the inventionare described as an example only without being limitative in any way,with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 represents a container bag according to the invention;

FIG. 2 represents a container bag as in FIG. 1, but when lifted;

FIG. 3 represents a section according to line III-III in FIG. 1 to alarger scale;

FIG. 4 represents a view of the part indicated by F4 in FIG. 3 to astill larger scale;

FIG. 5 represents a section according to line V-V in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 6 to 9 represent different operational steps for manufacturing acontainer bag according to the invention;

FIG. 10 represents a variant of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 represents a variant of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 3 represent a container bag 1 according to the inventionwhich mainly consists, when filled, of a cylindrical wall part 2 forminga filling space 3 and onto which are provided, on the outside, differentaccessories 4.

The wall part 2 as well as the accessories 4 are usually made of afabric, whereby the accessories 4 are in this case rectangular orpractically rectangular bands which are fixed to the wall part 2 withtheir longitudinal sides 5 in the longitudinal direction X-X′ of thecylindrical wall part 2, for example by means of stitching, stapling,gluing or the like.

As is represented more in detail in FIG. 4, the accessories 4 are inthis case fixed to the wall part 2 by means of stitching, whereby we candistinguish two fastening seams 6-7 per accessory 4.

According to the invention, the width A of the accessories is largerthan the peripheral distance B between both fastening seams 6-7,measured along the edge of a part 8 of the cylindrical wall part 2 whichis overlapped by the accessory 4, as a result of which additionalfilling spaces 9 are formed between each of the accessories 4 and thewall part 2.

Preferably, in the overlapped parts 8 of the cylindrical wall part 2,passages 10 are provided which connect the central filling space 3 tothe additional filling spaces 9.

As is represented in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bottom edge 11 and/or the topedge 12 of the cylindrical wall part 2, at the overlapped parts 8,is/are preferably locally removed in order to form additional passages10A.

Further, loops 13 can be provided on the outside of the cylindrical wallpart 2 or of the accessories 4, which make it possible to lift thecontainer bag 1 in order to move or to discharge it.

The loops 13 in this case preferably consist of strips of a wovenmaterial which are fixed to the container bag 1 by means of sewing,stitching, stapling or the like.

In the given example, the loops 13 are fixed to the container bag 1 withboth their far ends 14-15, whereby one far end 14 is fixed at a firstfastening seam 6 of an accessory 4 concerned and the other far end 15 isfixed to the second fastening seam 7 of the same accessory 4.

The distance L over which each of the far ends 14-15 of theabove-mentioned loops 13 are fixed to the container bag 1 may vary froma few centimetres to the entire height of the container bag 1, dependingon what capacity the container bag 1 has been designed for.

At the bottom of the container bag 1 is provided a bottom 16 which isfixed to the above-mentioned bottom side edge 11 and to the cross sideedges 17 of the accessories 4 by means of sewing, stitching, stapling orthe like.

The overlapped parts 8 of the cylindrical inner wall 2 are preferablyfree of any connection whatsoever to the above-mentioned bottom 16, suchthat, on the removed part of the edge 12, the additional passage 10A iscreated.

The bottom 16 in this case consists of a fabric in which a dischargeopening 18 is centrally provided which is limited by an edge 19 uponwhich is provided a cylindrical or funnel-shaped hose 20 in this case,which can be sealed by means of a cord 21 or the like.

At the top of the container bag 1 is provided a cover cloth 22 which isfixed to the top side edge 12 and to the cross side edges 17 of theaccessories 4.

In the given embodiment, the cover cloth 22 is provided with a fillingopening 23 which is limited by an edge 24 onto which is provided a hose25 via which the container bag 1 can be filled.

FIGS. 6 to 9 illustrate some operational steps of a method formanufacturing a container bag according to the invention, which methodis simple and as follows.

In the cylindrical wall part 2 are in this case provided four rows ofthe above-mentioned passages 10, which rows extend in the longitudinaldirection X-X′, and whereby the cylindrical wall part 2 encloses anangle of 90° between two adjacent rows.

Also, at each of the above-mentioned rows of passages 10, the bottomedge 11 and the top edge 12 of the cylindrical wall part 2 arepreferably removed, after which the accessories 4 are placed on thecylindrical wall part 2 and hereby overlap the above-mentioned passages10.

Simultaneously, also the above-mentioned loops 13 are placed over theabove-mentioned longitudinal sides 5 of the accessories 4, after whichthe loops 13 and the accessories 4 are fixed together onto thecylindrical wall part 2.

After the accessories 4 have been provided, the bottom 16 and the covercloth 22 can be provided at the bottom and at the top of the cylindricalwall part 2 respectively, whereby the bottom 16 and the cover cloth 22can each by fixed to the cylindrical wall part 2 with a fastening seam26 by means of stitching or the like.

Indeed, when the top edge 12 and the bottom edge 11 of the cylindricalwall part 2 have been removed at the overlapped parts 8, the fasteningseam 25 between the cover cloth 22, the bottom 16 respectively, and thecylindrical wall part 2 merges smoothly from the edge 11-12 concerned ofthe cylindrical wall part 2 to the edge concerned of the accessories 4.

The use of the container bag according to the invention consists infilling the container bag 1 via the above-mentioned filling opening 23with a bulk material, whereby the central filling space 3 is initiallyfilled up to a height which corresponds to the level at which the firstpassages 10, 10A are provided.

When the container bag 1 is filled further, the bulk material will flowor run over through these passages 10, 10A in the additional fillingspaces 9 until they are filled as well up to the level, or almost thelevel, of the first passages 10, 10A, after which the central fillingspace 3 is filled up to the level of the second passages 10, 10A,etcetera.

When the container bag 1 is finally filled completely, it will have analmost cubical or beam-shaped volume which stands relatively stable andcan easily be stacked.

In order to empty the container bag 1, it can be lifted by means of theloops 13, after which the discharge opening 18 in the bottom 16 of thecontainer bag 1 can be opened. The bulk material in the container bag 1will then fall down, under the influence of the gravitation, whereby thecentral filling space 3 is mainly emptied first, followed by theadditional filling spaces 9.

It should be noted that when the loops 13 have been provided on thecontainer bag 1 in the above-described places, the bottom 13 of thecontainer bag 1 stays in a relatively horizontal position while beingdischarged.

This horizontal position offers the advantage that the space between thebottom 16 and the bottom edge 11 which has been locally removed from thecylindrical wall part 2 stays relatively large, allowing for a good flowof the bulk material in the container bag 1.

When, as in the known container bags, the loops 13 are fixed on thecorners of the container bag 1, the bottom 16 of the container bag 1 islifted at the additional filling spaces 9 up to the bottom edge 11 ofthe cylindrical wall part 2, such that the space between the bottom 16and this bottom edge 11 is reduced, and the risk for the bulk materialto become obstructed while the container bag 1 is being discharged islarger, which has for a result that the container bag 1 is emptied in abad or incomplete manner.

Naturally, it is possible to provide a separate loop 13 on each of thefastening seams 6-7 of the accessories 4 on the wall part 2, which mayoffer the same advantages as the above-described embodiment, whereby theloops 13 are fixed to two fastening seams 6-7 of one and the sameaccessory 4 with each time one of their far ends 14-15.

Also fixing the loops 13 with their far ends 14-15 to two differentfastening seams 6-7 of two different accessories 4 is a possibilitywhich offers the above-mentioned advantage.

It is clear that the embodiment of the bottom 16 and the cover cloth 22can be made according to different variants.

FIG. 10, for example, represents a variant in which the bottom 16 isformed of four flaps 27 which are provided diametrically in relation toeach other at the bottom of the container bag 1.

In this embodiment, the container bag 1 is left open at the top, whichcan simplify the filling thereof.

According to another variant, the bottom 17 of the container bag 10could be made flat, whereby, in order to discharge the container bag 1,the bag can be turned around or whereby the bottom 17 can be cut open.

FIG. 11 represents a variant of FIG. 4, whereby the fastening seam 6-7between the cylindrical wall part 2, the accessories 4 and any possibleloops 13 is realised by folding at least the cylindrical wall part 2 atthe fastening seams 6-7 into an outward directed folding seam, and byfixing the accessories 4 and possibly the far ends 14-15 of the loops 13to the above-mentioned folding seam by means of sewing, stitching or thelike.

Naturally, also the bottom 16 and the cover cloth 22 are preferablyfixed to the container bag 1 in an analogous manner.

Such a manner for fixing the different parts of the container bag 1together is advantageous in that the fastening seams 6-7 are situatedentirely outside the filling spaces 3 and 9 of the container bag 1, suchthat no contamination by fibres of the sewing thread or the like willoccur in the container bag 1, which is necessary when storing very purecomponents, such as polypropylene which is designed as bulk material foran extrusion process.

The present invention is by no means limited to the above-describedembodiments represented in the accompanying drawings; on the contrary,such a container bag according to the invention can be made according todifferent variants while still remaining within the scope of theinvention.

1.- A container bag which comprises, when the container bag is filled, acylindrical wall part forming a first central filling space; a number ofaccessories fixed thereto forming additional filling spaces; and abottom, wherein the above-mentioned accessories are provided on theoutside of the cylindrical wall part. 2.- The container bag according toclaim 1, wherein the accessories consist of rectangular, or practicallyrectangular bands which are fixed to the above-mentioned wall part withtheir longitudinal sides in the longitudinal direction X-X′ of theabove-mentioned cylindrical wall part along two fastening seams. 3.- Thecontainer bag according to claim 1, wherein the above-mentionedaccessories have a width which is larger than the peripheral distance ofthe cylindrical wall part between both fastening seams of one and thesame accessory. 4.- The container bag according to claim 3, whereinpassages are provided in the parts of the above-mentioned wall partwhich are overlapped by the accessories. 5.- The container bag accordingto claim 3, wherein the top edge and the bottom edge of the cylindricalwall part are partly removed at the overlapped parts. 6.- The containerbag according to claim 5, wherein the bottom is fixed to the bottom edgeof the above-mentioned wall part and to the bottom cross side of theaccessories, whereas the bottom is free of any connection to theabove-mentioned overlapped parts. 7.- The container bag according toclaim 1, wherein said container bag is provided with loops which arefixed to the container bag at the fastening seams of the accessories onthe cylindrical wall part. 8.- The container bag according to claim 7,wherein the loops consist of a band which is fixed with one far end to afirst fastening seam of an accessory and with its other far end to thesecond fastening seam of the same accessory. 9.- The container bagaccording to claim 1, wherein the accessories are fixed to thecylindrical wall part by folding this cylindrical wall part at thefastening seams into an outward directed folding seam and by fixing theaccessories to the above-mentioned folding seam by means of sewing,stitching or the like.